Adjustable air distribution unit



Feb. 12, 1957 w. w. KENNEDY ADJUSTABLE AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT Y Filed may '5 1953 INVEN TOR.

@www e ww H. Rv M m A 4A M f rw@ ,f www United States Patent C 2,780,980 ADEUSTABLE AIR DSTRIBUTION UNIT Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber- Colman Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 5, 1953, Serial No. 353,111 4 Claims. (Cl. SIS-40) This invention relates to air distribution units of the type usually mounted in ceilings and comprising a plurality of deliector members arranged one within the other and cooperating to define one or more concentric downwardly daring air passages. The invention has more particular reference to an air distribution unit of the type in which the deflectors are adjustable axially relative to each other by virtue of their mounting on or suspension at spaced points along radially disposed angularly spaced arms or bars fulcrumed at their outer ends to swing about stationary axes disposed adjacent the outer deflector, the inner ends of said rods terminating adjacent the center of the distribution unit.

One object is to provide an air distribution outlet of the above character having a mounting for the inner and intermediate deflectors which is simpler to manufacture and easier to adjust than the constructions heretofore used.

Another object is to incorporate in the pivot joints at the ends of the supporting arms novel devices for deriving sufficient friction to maintain the adjusted positions of the intermediate and inner deectors.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the devices for deriving the holding friction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diametrical cross-sectional View of a distribution um't embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view partially in section of a part of Fig. 2.

The improved distribution unit is intended to be set into a ceiling or other wall of a room into which air supplied from a duct is delivered through a plurality of concentric or axially ralined passages and 11 of different sizes and discharged from the face of the unit in the form of tube-like streams. Each of the air passages is defined by a pair of deflector members one arranged within the other and spaced along a common axis. To provide two air passages through theV unit, three deflector members 12, 13, and 14 are employed. Herein the passage 10 is dened by the outer and intermediate members 12 and 13 while the passage 11 is formed by the intermediate member coacting with the inner or'central member 14. The number of air passages may, of course, be increased by employing additional intermediate deector members, the cross-sectional shape of which corresponds to the desired cross section of the air passages. A

Herein, the outer -deliector member 12 comprises generally frusto conical shell having a cylindrical neck or inlet end 15 adapted to telescope with and be secured to a ange of a supply duct.' 'immediately' below the larger end of the cone, the shell is made generally cylindrical as indicated at 16 and then is bent 'outwardly'substantially at right angles to form a peripheral decorative flange 17 gradually sloping backwardly and terminating in a bead which abuts against the ceiling surface inthe iinal installation.

The intermediate vdeiiector 13 is similarly shaped but is a smaller and somewhat steeper hollow truncated cone also composed of sheet metal and having at its inner end a short cylindrical neck 18 concentric with the outer neck 15 but spaced axially and inwardly from the latter. The larger or Outer edge portion of the cone 13 is bent to form a generally cylindrical portion 19 and a substantially right angular slightly sloping flange 20 of the same general contour as the ange 17 but slightly narrower in width than the latter.

Disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the unit is the inner deector member 14 which herein comprises an imperforate disk having an outer peripheral flange 21 of the same general contour as the flanges 17 and 20 and somewhat larger in diameter than the neck 18. The cross-sectional area of the annular passage 11Ais thus properly proportioned in relation to the cross-sectional area of the outer passage 10.

The intermediate and central deflector members 13 and 14 are supported from the outer shell 12 for axial adjustment in unison but differentially through proportionately greater distances to enable the direction of discharge of the air streams to be varied while maintaining the ratio of the cross-sectional areas or the passages 1-0 and 11 substantially constant. Thus, the members 13 and 14 may be positioned m'th their flanges substantially ush with each other and the flange 17 as shown in full in Fig. l, or spaced inwardly dilferent distances from the flange 17 as shown in dot-dash outline, or spaced outwardly as shown in dotted outline.

The mounting for effecting the differential adjustment of the movable members comprises a plurality, three in the present instance, of angularly spaced lever arms 23 disposed within the neck portion of the shell 12 and radiating outwardly from points adjacent the axis thereof with each arm supported at its outer end on the neck of the shell to swing about stationary pivots 24 which extend tangentially of the neck 15. To obtain the desired proportional adjustment of the deflectors 13 and 14, the latter are suspended from the intermediate and inner end portions of the arms 23. For this purpose, bracket arms 25 welded at 3l) to the top of the inner deliector v14 converge upwardly and at their upper ends are pivotally connected by cross pins 26 to a member 28 which is movable along the center axis 29 of the unit. The pins 26 of the respective arms 23 parallel the corresponding supporting pivots 24. Herein the member 28 comprises three sheet metal arms 27 lying alongside the inner end portions of the arms 23 with their inner overlapping ends welded or otherwise secured together at the center of the unit as indicated at 27a.

Short bars 31 welded at angularly spaced points to the neck 18 of the intermediate deflector provide upstanding pairs of lugs 32 which straddle the intermediate parts of the arms 23 and are joined to the latter by pins 33 extending through slots 34 in the arms and paralleling the pins 24 and 26. The slots are Velongated in a direction longitudinally of the arms to permit swinging of the latter.

In the present instance the pins 24 span lugs 36 which are rigid with and project inwardly from the neck 15 of the outer deector 12. Preferably, the outer ends of the arms 23 are hooked over the pivot pins 24 so as to permit of ready attachment and removal of the unit assembly formed by the arms 23 and the deectors 13 and 14 suspended therefrom. To this end, a downwardly opening slot 37 formed in each arm near the outer end thereof communicates with a right angular slot v38 extending longitudinally of the arms. After the hooks 39 thus formed have been -fitted over the pivot pins 24, the arms 23 may be straightened thus entering the pins in the slots 38 as shown in full in Fig. l. By virtue of the pin and slot joints thus formed, the eective lengths of the bars `between the pivots 24 and 26 may be varied to permit flexing of the bars relative to each other by raising and lowering of the inner deflector 14. In accordance with the present invention, one or more friction devices 39 are incorporated in the pivot joints at one or both ends of the arms 23 to derive sufficient friction to prevent flexing of the arms relative to each other and thereby maintain any selected position of adjustment of the deflectors 13 and 14 under the `weight of the latter when the unit is mounted in the ceiling of a room. Each friction device may comprise toothed or serrated surfaces resiliently urged into gripping engagement or the necessary friction may be derived by spring loaded detents on one part engageable with teeth on the other part. In the present instance, however, each device 39 comprises a pair of opposed friction surfaces 40, 41 surrounding one of the arm pivots, in this instance, the pivot 26, and resiliently urged toward each other as by a spring 42 so as to derive a substantial frictional force resisting swinging of the arm relative to the center connecting member 27.

Herein, the surfaces 40 and 41 are formed on the enlarged inner ends 43 of the arms 23 and the correspondingly sized plates 27. To provide increased friction, these surfaces are separated by a disk 45 of high coefficient friction material. The spring 42 may take the form of a bowed disk compressed between the arm 23 and a nut 46 on a headed bolt which forms the pivot pin 26.

Preferably, one of the friction devices 39 is provided at the inner end of each of the arms 23 thus multiplying the combined friction force produced and acting to maintain the adjusted positions of the arms 23. lf desired, similar friction devices may be associated with the pivots at the outer ends of the arms 23 thus further increasing the total friction maintaining the selected adjustment of the deflectors 13 and 14.

It will be apparent that the total friction produced by the combined action of all of the devices 39 acts effectually to retain any selected angular position of the arms 23 by virtue of their interconnection through the center member 27. The arms are, however, free to iiex vertically relative to each other as permitted by sliding of the outer end portions relative to the pivot pins 24. Therefore, to adjust the relative positions of the deflectors 13 and 14 and thereby vary the discharge pattern of the air delivered through the unit, it is only necessary to swing the levers by manually pushing the center deilector upwardly or pulling the same downwardly against the constantly applied friction. The latter acts to maintain the new positions of the lever arms and the movable deectors.

I claim as my invention:

1. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means dening a plurality of generally concentric annular air passages including an outer deector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deilectors, angularly spaced bars extending generally radially of the outer deiiector and having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit and outer ends disposed adjacent said outer defiector, a member movable axially of said unit, pivot joints at the outer and inner ends of each of said bars connecting the same to said outer deflector and said member respectively for relative swinging about parallel axes normal to the axis of the unit, one of said joints including a slot elongated in a direction longitudinally of the bar, means intermediate the ends of said bars pivotally connecting the same to said intermediate deflector and means for resisting flexing of the other of said joints comprising opposed surfaces surrounding the axis of such joint and carried by different parts thereof so as to turn relative to each other upon swinging of said bars, and spring means urging said surfaces toward each other. 2. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of generally concentric annular air passages including an outer deector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent thercenter of the unit and outer ends disposed adjacent said outer deflector, said intermediate and inner deilectors being pivotally connected to and suspended from said bars a member movable axially of said unit, pivot joints at the outer and inner ends of each of said bars connecting the same to said outer deflector and said member respectively for relative swinging about parallel axes normal to the axis of the unit, one of said joints including a slot elongated in a direction longitudinally of the bar, a plurality of sets of surfaces each set surrounding and substantially larger than the pivot of one of said joints and formed on different parts of the joint so as to turn relative to each other upon swinging of said bars, and resilient means urging said surfaces toward each other to produce sufcient friction to maintain the adjusted angular positions of said bars under the weight of said intermediate and inner deilectors.

3. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of generally concentric annular air passages including an outer deector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit and outer ends disposed adjacent said outer deector, means pivotally connecting said intermediate and inner delico tors to said bars at radially spaced points, a member movable axially of said unit, pivot joints at the outer and inner ends of each of said bars connecting the same to said outer deflector and said member respectively for relative swinging about parallel axes normal to the axis of the unit, one of said joints including a slot elongated in a direction longitudinally of the bar, means for frictionally maintaining each adjusted angular position of said bars under the weight of said intermediate and inner deflectors including at least two surfaces surrounding and substantially larger than the pivot of one of said joints and formed on different parts of the joint so as to turn relative to each other upon swinging of said bars, and resilient means urging said surfaces toward each other.

4. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of generally concentric annular air passages including an outer stationary deflector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deec tors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit and outer ends each fulcrumed to swing about a stationary axis extending normal to the axis of the unit and supported on said outer deector, said inner and intermediate dellectors being pivotally connected to and suspended from said bars at radially spaced points, a member movable axially of said unit and comprising a plurality of arms joined together at the center of said unit and lying alongside the inner end portions of the respective bars, pivot pins joining the overlapping ends of said bars and arms, and resilient means urging said bars and arms toward each other to produce suicient friction to ymaintain the adjusted angular positions of the bars under the weight of said intermediate and inner deflectors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 829,070 Hansen Aug. 2l, 1906 2,125,454 Marshall Aug. 2, 1938 2,182,923 Komora Dec. 12, 1939 2,627,799 Kurth et al. Feb. l0, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,048 Great Britain Ian. 11, 1932 

